Ex-British PM: Obama 'sensible' on Middle East

Religion and faith must used as a force to bring peace to the chronically troubled Middle East and other parts of the world, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today in a speech in Chicago.

"We're going to have to get involved and stay involved until the job is done," Blair told an audience of about 1,000 people at a forum on religion and politics in the Fairmont Hotel sponsored by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

After he departed the prime minister post in 2007, Blair was chosen as the representative to negotiate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on behalf of the United States, United Nations, Russia and Europe, a coalition known as the Quartet on the Middle East.

On Wednesday, Blair spoke about how his stand on fighting terrorism has changed over the past decade since the war over the former Serbian province of Kosovo between Serb-led Yugoslavia and a coalition of nations led by the United States and Britain. Yugoslavia was driven out of Kosovo, and the repressive regime of Slobodan Milosevic eventually was thrown out of power.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair delivers a speech about faith and globalization to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. (Getty / Scott Olson)

At that time, Blair said he believed, "better to intervene than to be left alone."

"Back in 1999, I thought the removal of a despotic regime was almost sufficient in itself to create the conditions for progress," Blair said. "But this battle cannot so easily be won."

Since Kosovo, Blair said tragic events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the unrest in Afghanistan and Iraq call for a different approach that combines military strength and diplomacy.

"As time has passed, so has the familiar certainty that our power would always triumph," Blair said. "Iraq, though measurably improved from two years ago, remains fragile."

While he said he still believes that those who oppress and brutalize citizens are better put out of power than kept in, he now calls for a partnership between faiths.

"Our job is simple." Blair said. "It is to support and partner those Muslims who believe deeply in Islam but also who believe in peaceful co-existence."

Blair said he agrees with the Obama administrations on engaging with Iran and called it "entirely sensible."

But the purpose of the engagement should be clear, he said.

"[Engagement] is to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons capability. But it is more than that," Blair said. "It is to put a stop to the Iranian regime's policy of de-stabilization and support of terrorism."

The world must address the roots of extremism that trace back for decades, he said. "It is important to recognize that it is not going to be won except over a prolonged period," Blair said.

Ordinary people in troubled regions must foster change, he said. "We need to work with them to allow their voice to be heard and their authenticity to be established."

Blair, who served as prime minister from 1997 to 2007, converted to Roman Catholicism two years ago.